Vintners, restaurateurs and members of the public have reacted with widespread fury to the blow dealt by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the hospitality sector on Saturday.
As the Government continuously stresses the need for caution and conservatism in terms of Ireland’s emergence from Level 5, the Fianna Fáil leader stated on Saturday that no consideration will be given to the reopening of pubs and restaurants before the middle of the summer.
While the news may not have come as a surprise to many stakeholders, the lack of certainty and clarity from Government sources has been criticised as a mark of disrespect to those most impacted by pandemic closures.